Let There Be Light! - Jeff Cummings Photography

Kalaloch Beach, Washington

The other day the Spirit of Jesus spoke to me and whispered, “light”. Anticipating that He was preparing to share something with me I replied, “What’s up?”

We had an awesome conversation. He brought to my attention the fact that the very first recorded words of God in Genesis 1:2 were “Let there be light”.

Ok…?

The Holy Spirit then proceeded to tell me how much He loves light! I’d never heard Him say it quite this way. Often, during times of decision, exploration, and seeking God I have thought to myself, “Hey, who turned out the lights? What in the world am I doing and where am I going?”

In subtle doubt I found myself in a place of stumbling, grasping, trying to keep my balance. Actually, I have been afraid of the dark.

“Jesus?”

He says,

“I love the light.”

“I’m glad,” I replied, “me too.” But there was more.

He started getting personal. “I love light in YOUR life. My will is for you to walk in the light. I never leave you in the dark. The light I give brings LIFE to you and everything you do. In my light is TRUTH so the perspective you have and decisions you make are not tricky or misleading.”

The conversation continued throughout the day as the Spirit of Jesus disclosed more about light.

He reminded me of something He had showed me years ago of what John said in his book chapter 1:4, “In Him [Jesus] was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.”

“The LIGHT of MEN”. In the English translation the word light seems to be possess-able. For example, you might say that I am the husband of Roxanne, meaning I am possessed by her, or belong to her. Or I could say that Alyssa is my daughter. Of course I don’t own her, but through relationship I do possess her as my daughter.

I used to read “the light of men” in this passage as a general statement that Jesus came into the world as a light to all mankind. Think about a room in your house and the light fixture in the center of the ceiling. Usually there is a switch at the door that you flip to illuminate the room. When you turn on the light, it is broadcast throughout the room and whether you are alone or the room is filled with people, all are exposed to the light. But once you leave the room, that specific light is gone and you walk in darkness unless you have access to other lights and switches.

The light of men is much more personal to the individual. It is possess-able through relationship. So while one might be exposed to the Light of Jesus through His evidence in creation and while the light of Jesus is the source of conscience for all mankind; relationship with Him makes His light possess-able. So His light becomes MY LIGHT, the light of mankind (Jeff). Now, instead of being limited to a light in the room, it’s as if I have my own personal flashlight. Wherever I go, I possess a light to illuminate my way.

Relationship and possession becomes even more profound upon the realization that God calls Himself the Father of Lights and in relationship we are His children of light.

“Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself].” James 1:17-18

“For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we do not belong either to the night or to darkness.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5

“For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].” Ephesians 5:8

Through relationship with Jesus we not only possess His light, we, by means of spiritual genetics as God’s children, exude His light through our very being. A Light that once was external, outside of us, enters inside of us and through it’s illumination and life transforms us from the inside out. His light exposes deceptions and brings healing to broken, damaged areas.

Light is not an end in itself. When God created the universe He started with light. But light led to the creation of life! In Jesus is LIFE, and HIS LIFE was the light of men. Jesus’ light brings life. Those who possess His light have His life – and ownership of the light is a right of relationship.

This relationship between light and life is also true in the natural world. Life thrives in light. However, things also grow in darkness: mold, fungi, mildew, yeast, bacteria, and rust. Most often what propagates in darkness is toxic. This is true in the natural as well as the spiritual.

As children of light, we experience the intimacy of fullness of life with Father. We also give life as we manifest the light of Jesus presence within us.

A sister stopped by the other day. We were talking about light and life. Rainbows are a significant personal symbol to me and my sister brought up the rainbow in conversation. It is interesting to note that a rainbow is created when light bends through a transparent object like water drops or a prism. The “white light” carries within it the full spectrum of color. But it is not revealed until it is bent through the prism.

I wanted to show you a photo of a beautiful rainbow here, but instead Father spoke to me of this one. Here we have the raging muddy waters of spring, the drab colors of former glory, and remnants of the last stubborn snow. There is beauty here. In the midst of the murkiness and stale colors, the light from the sun interacts with the water droplets to display a beautiful manifestation of the rainbow colors of the Son and the promise of life. Life is here and growing – it’s spring.

This fact emphasized my importance and significance to Father. I carry within my genetics His light and His life, empowering an intimate personal relationship with Him. But I am also created to manifest and reveal the magnificent colors of His majesty and love as His light reflects through me (like a prism) in a colorful display of His presence! This makes it imperative that I’m encouraging the Holy Spirit within me to polish me from the inside out. Jesus talked about a person who lit a candle and then put a basket over the top. The candle will only light the room for others when the cover is removed. The personal presence of God is revealed through His prisms (us) of light. Our fleshly skin can create a hazy cover that does not allow His light to display in its colorful glory. But with our cooperation, the Holy Spirit cleans and heals from within and His light is bent through us in a glorious manifestation of His love and life.